The Best Museums in Jackson MS

If you’re interested in visiting a city full of amazing museums and rich civil rights history, the city of Jackson MS is ready to welcome you. It’s the capital city of Mississippi and home to nearly 175,000 people -- over twice as many people than the next-largest city in the state.

Founded in 1821 and named after General Andrew Jackson, who would eventually become President and was honored for his role in the War of 1812. The location was chosen as the capital, known as the seat of the state government, due to it being a major merger for various transportation routes in the 1800s.

Located southwest of the Ross R. Barnett Reservoir and only 16 miles from Bienville National Forest, the city of Jackson MS is an eventful place to visit with the family -- especially for any history buffs out there.

To help you get the most out of your trip, we’re going to highlight some of the best hotels in Jackson MS, the must-see museums and attractions, and some fun facts you should know before visiting this beautiful city. 

Finding the Best Hotels in Jackson MS

When visiting Jackson, Mississippi, most people will want to stay at a hotel near the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and/or LaFleur’s Bluff State Park. These are going to be the three main hotspots for the best hotels in Jackson MS.

For anyone traveling with family, Fairview Inn and Residence Inn will be excellent choices nearby the Mississippi Children’s Museum and LaFleur’s Bluff State Park. If you’re looking for something more in the heart of the city of Jackson MS, there’s a Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, and Red Roof Inn near the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. 

Finally, if you’re interested in a hotel in the heart of the Farish Street Historic District, you should consider the Hilton Garden Inn, Jackson Downtown Convention Center Hotel, the Westin Jackson, or Old Capitol Inn. 

Museums and Things to Do in Jackson MS

We’ve already mentioned some of the more popular museums to visit in Jackson MS, but there are so many more museums in the city to check out. With so many fun things to do in Jackson MS, you’ll want to leave enough time for all the museums they have.

Outside of the two museums mentioned above, Jackson is known for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Old Capitol Museum, Eudora Welty House and Garden, the Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum, the Mississippi Museum of Art, and the Oak’s Museum House.

There’s so much history to learn here as it was one of the meccas of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Don’t forget about the various historic trails located throughout the city, like the Mississippi Freedom Trail and those that are found at LaFleur’s Bluff State Park.

Fun Facts About the City of Jackson MS

If you aren’t already excited about the fun things to do in Jackson MS, we have some fun facts to hopefully spark that excitement! You’ll learn a lot on your trip, but here are some of the fun facts you should know before visiting Jackson: 

• Harry Cole, a native of Jackson, invented Pine-Sol in this city in 1929. It would later be purchased by Clorox Company.
• The governor’s mansion in Jackson, Mississippi is the second-oldest in the United States, only behind Virginia’s governor’s mansion.
• The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson was home to the first-ever human lung transplant in 1963.
• In the Battle of Jackson during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant's Army of Tennessee destroyed a wide range of warehouses and factories in the city. The government buildings, however, remained untouched.

To learn more about this wonderful city and the history it encompasses, you should start planning your trip today! There is a wide range of fun things to do in Jackson MS outside of history, so this trip won’t be limited to just the history buffs!

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